USC College of Nursing Fall 2022 Magazine

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA | College of Nursing | Fall 2022

Gamecock

Nursing Nation

INSPIRING OUR FUTURE Leading the way in transformative health care

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DEAR COLLEAGUES, ALUMNI AND FRIENDS, s I reflect on the College of Nursing at the end of 2022, I continue to be inspired by the achievements from our resilient team, along with the generous and impactful support of our partners, alumni, donors and friends. South Carolina continues to face one of the most devastating nursing workforce shortages in the nation while demand for health care access and delivery of care continues to expand.

Over the past 10 years, we have implemented a “measured” growth plan while attending to quality and inclusive excellence in all that we do. However, the 2022 investments in

DEAN JEANNETTE O. ANDREWS

the college, will be transformative for our future. The addition of a new building planned for 2024, in a private public partnership with Lexington Medical Center, along with the investment from the state legislature and our governor to address faculty shortages in the state, are big “wins” for our college and the nursing profession in the state. Not only are we inspired by our future, but major stakeholders in our state and beyond are inspired by our successes, partnering with us to invest in our future.

In this issue, you will read further about these stakeholder investments, as well as our internal creativity to meet with workforce demands with a nurse-faculty pipeline program. Our journey for excellence continues, and this past year our esteemed faculty led the successful application for our second National League of Nursing Center for Excellence in Nursing Education designation. Our college continues to hold our No. 1 ranking from U.S. News & World Report and excellent NCLEX and nurse practitioner first-time pass rates on their respective board exams. You will also learn more about the successes and achievements of our faculty with national fellowships, as well as our talented new endowed professors, faculty and staff we welcomed to our team.

Our research is thriving and continues to impact individuals, families and communities in our region and around the globe. We experienced a record year in research funding from the National Institutes of Health and other funders, as well as the largest single grant in our history, a $13.2 million grant to grow additional diverse tenure track faculty in our college.

We continue to be inspired by our students and alumni, who are excelling in practice, policy and all aspects of nursing leadership. Our donors continue to generously support our college and our mission, and I want to extend my gratitude for your loyal and ongoing support and contributions.

This has been a transformative year for the college, but our best is still ahead of us.

We encourage you to stay connected – follow @uofscnursing on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. We look forward to your interaction and feedback!

In the Gamecock Nursing Nation spirit,

Jeannette O. Andrews Ph.D., RN, FAAN Dean & Helen Gurley Wolford Professor of Nursing

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA / 3

FALL 2022 Director of Communications and Marketing Nicole Meares Communications Manager Mya Singleton Senior Director of Development Monica Cromer Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations Mollie Roe Administrative Assistant Erica Neet Contributing Writers Erin Bluvas Kyndel Lee Emily Miles Carol Ward Contributing Photographers Jason Ayer Bonnie Smith Designer Helena Walters College of Nursing University of South Carolina 1601 Greene Street Columbia, SC 29208 sc.edu/nursing

CONTENTS INSIDE THE ISSUE

4 / Shared Commitment

UofSC, Lexington Medical partnership to improve health care in S.C. and address nursing shortage

6 / Excellence in Nursing Education

College of Nursing has been recognized for the second time as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education

10 / Student Awards

We congratulate these students who received awards for their commitment to leadership, scholarship and service

12 / Donor Spotlight

Passionate Alumnae Receive 2022 Donor Awards

15 / Research

New pediatric research center improves health outcomes

NEWS First-Class Faculty Stellar Students and Programs

10

Donors and Friends

12

By the Numbers

19

Amazing Alumni

22

Phone: 803-777-7412 @UofSCNursing

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, transgender status, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.

6

C E N T E R of

EXCELLENCE

in NURSING EDUCATION 2020 - 2024

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GROWTH AND COMMITMENT

SHARED COMMITMENT

UofSC, Lexington Medical partnership to improve health care in S.C. and address nursing shortage.

By Kyndel Lee

shared commitment to building the future

"Lexington Medical Center is excited to

A new phase in the growing partnership

of health care in the Midlands and across

expand our relationship with the University

South Carolina,” says university President

of South Carolina to creatively solve

Michael Amiridis. “I applaud the vision

the nursing shortage,” says Tod Augsburger,

and innovative spirit, and I’m looking

LMC president and CEO. "As leaders in

forward to the implementation of our

the Midlands, our organizations share a

ambitious plans.”

responsibility and a vision to enhance

The plans, which were announced by

services, create opportunities and support

between the University of South Carolina and Lexington Medical Center will address the state’s mounting health care provider needs.

The expanded public-private relationship will establish a new state-of-the-art facility for the use of the university’s nursing program on the hospital’s campus and create 13 new residencies in family practice as part of a new graduate medical education program.

“This exciting new chapter in the partnership between the University of South Carolina and the Lexington Medical Center makes a strong statement of our

the university’s Board of Trustees in July, include building a 50,000-square-foot nursing simulation center and teaching space. The center will provide clinical training for the university’s growing nursing student population. Lexington Medical Center will fund the estimated $20 million project, which will be on the hospital’s campus.

growth in our region. This endeavor marks the beginning of a strong partnership that will improve the health of our communities for generations.”

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA / 5

This exciting new chapter in the partnership between the University of South Carolina

and the Lexington Medical Center makes a strong statement of our shared commitment to building the future of health care in the Midlands and across South Carolina.

MICHAEL AMIRIDIS

TARGETING THE NURSING SHORTAGE The new training center is expected to open for the first cohort of nursing students in spring 2023 with a groundbreaking expected this fall. In May, the College of

The medical center will build the new

investing in the future of nursing education

nursing facility and provide clinical

for our state.”

instructors while the university will fund

Melissa Taylor, Lexington Medical Center’s

equipment needed for the simulation center as well as equipment and furnishings for classroom spaces.

vice president and chief nursing officer says South Carolina is projected to have the fourth-highest nursing shortage in the

College of Nursing Dean Jeannette Andrews

country by 2030. She believes the impact

says the innovative partnership is great

of the partnership will grow the pipeline of

news for South Carolina residents, who will

skilled nurses for the hospital and the state

directly benefit from the training provided

by giving individuals more opportunity to

nurses per year in the Midlands —

to future nurses.

enter the nursing profession.

an 80 percent increase annually.

“The new teaching and learning space will

The university founded the College of

The new training center will be used

provide both our organizations with a

Nursing to help meet the state’s needs

win-win opportunity to help solve South

for skilled health care professionals, a

Carolina’s nursing shortage,” Andrews says.

focus that continues to be central to their

“We are gratified to help lead this charge

missions.

Nursing graduated 220 nurses from the Columbia campus. With the new space at Lexington Medical Center, the university will be able to graduate 400 pre-licensure

primarily for clinical training of the university’s third- and fourth-year nursing bachelor’s students as well as master’s program students.

for nursing workforce development and thrilled that Lexington Medical Center is

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FACULTY HIGHLIGHT

Recognized for

EXCELLENCE

C E N T E R of

EXCELLENCE

in NURSING EDUCATION 2020 - 2024

The University of South Carolina College of Nursing has been recognized for the second time as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education.

The College of Nursing was the only college in South Carolina and one of only 16 schools nationwide to receive the honor from the National League for Nursing. The effort was led by Alicia Ribar, associate dean of academics, and Kathy Bradshaw, professor and executive academic strategist.

The prestigious designation is awarded to schools of nursing and health care organizations to acknowledge outstanding innovations, commitment and sustainability of excellence in a specific area. For the 2022–2026 term, the college was recognized for its ability to create environments that promote the teaching expertise of faculty. In 2020, the college received its first Center of Excellence in Nursing Education designation for creating environments that enhance student learning and professional development (2020–2024 term).

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA / 7

Faculty exemplify excellence in the College of Nursing The faculty’s commitment to excellence and innovation in teaching, research and practice is critical to the role the College of Nursing serves in South Carolina and has been recognized by their peers in the profession.

Crystal Murillo, assistant dean, Center for Simulation and Experiential Learning and assistant professor, was recently accepted into the 2022 class of the Academy of Nursing Education Fellows. Fellows are expected to support the vision of the National League for Nursing and provide leadership in nursing education.

30%

of College of Nursing faculty hold distinguished national fellowships Robin Dawson, associate professor, and Murillo were inducted into the American Academy of Nursing 2022 Class of Fellows.

Through a competitive and rigorous Committee reviewed a record number of applications, representing a 30 percent increase from the previous year. The 2022 fellows were selected based on their contributions to advance the

was inducted as a Fellow in the Fellows of

public’s health.

the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

Bernie Pinto, associate dean for Research,

whose demonstrated leadership, clinical excellence, scholarship and professional achievement merit special recognition.

co-director Cancer Survivorship Center was selected as a American Psychological Association Fellow. Fellow status is awarded to members who have shown

Affairs and Health Sciences Endowed

evidence of unusual and outstanding

Professor, was inducted into Sigma

contributions or performance in the field

Nursing Honor Society of Nursing

of psychology. This status requires that a

International Nurse Researcher

person's work has had a national impact

Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes

on the field of psychology beyond a local,

Sigma members who have achieved

state or regional level.

significant and sustained national and/

Michael Wirth, assistant professor

work and research that has impacted the profession and people it serves. Dail's research aims to reduce morbidity and mortality in premature infants. It is funded by the National Institutes of Health, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, GE Healthcare and other foundations,

ROBIN DAIL

Health Sciences Endowed Professor, and

Robin Dail, associate dean for Faculty

or international recognition for their

RHONDA JOHNSON

application process, the Fellow Selection

Rhonda Johnson, assistant professor,

This honor is bestowed on midwives

CRYSTAL MURILLO

ROBIN DAWSON

was accepted as a Fellow into the American College of Epidemiology.

Fellows are distinguished by their significant and sustained contributions to

BERNIE PINTO

the profession of epidemiology through research and/or through their leadership role in the practice of epidemiology.

such as March of Dimes and the American Nurses Foundation.

MICHAEL WIRTH

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LEGISLATIVE IMPACT

Family experience motivates efforts to prevent suicide Governor awards Order of the Silver Crescent to nursing alumnus, Bradley Quarles

By Mollie Roe and Emily Miles During his sophomore year, nursing student Bradley Quarles lost a family member to suicide. That experience, combined with the medical knowledge he

In May 2022, Gov. Henry McMaster awarded Quarles the Order of the Silver Crescent, the state’s most prestigious service award, for his efforts in adding the lifeline number to the back of Carolina Cards. He is believed to be the first College of Nursing and School of Medicine Columbia student to receive the award.

learned in his studies, spurred Quarles

Quarles, a College of Nursing alumnus, is studying to be a certified

to look for ways to prevent suicide and

registered nurse anesthetist at the University of South Carolina

promote mental health on campus.

School of Medicine Columbia. Since choosing the path of health

Because of his efforts, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number was added to the back of all University of South Carolina identification cards.

“Every student and employee receives a Carolina Card when they begin UofSC. I thought adding the hotline number to something so prominent on campus would provide an easy access tool for members of the Carolina community,” Quarles said at the time.

His work also was the catalyst for legislation at the state level with the Student Identification Card Suicide Prevention Act. This bill, signed in 2021, requires public schools in South Carolina serving grades seven through twelve and public and private colleges and universities to provide the lifeline phone number and an additional crisis resource of their choosing on school-issued student identification cards.

care as a freshman in college, he has been interested in how health care and politics intersect to improve community health and patient outcomes. He spent the summer of 2017 working as a mayor's fellow for former Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin.

"The fellowship working in the mayor's office showed me how nurses can impact the political landscape and why policy is so vital," Quarles said.

When Quarles received the Order of the Silver Crescent with his wife Gaby and their families in attendance, the governor recognized his outstanding service work to the university and the state.

"What today means to me, it shows the power of the individual to make an impact. It really highlights the core of who we are, and our core values as health care professionals, as nurses and as a future CRNA. To represent the University of South Carolina, the College of Nursing and the anesthesia program at the School of Medicine Columbia is really important to me,” Quarles said.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255) provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A national network of over 200 local crisis centers combines local care and resources with national standards and best practices.

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State supports initiative to address nursing shortage with $10 million in funding The College of Nursing, in partnership with other state institutions, worked with the governor and legislators to include $10 million in the state budget to address South Carolina’s critical nursing shortage.

The funding for fiscal year 2022–2023 will come from lottery revenue to address the nursing faculty and instructor pipeline, which has been identified as a key factor contributing to the shortage of nurses.

THE BIG PICTURE

National and state data show that inadequate funding to hire and compensate nursing faculty is an impediment to recruitment and retention.

Nursing faculty can earn more working in health care practice than in teaching due to market competition.

Doctoral prepared nurses and nurses with specialty training can earn substantially more than they would in a faculty position.

WHY IT MATTERS

WHAT’S NEXT

The financial support for current and future faculty recruitment and retention will help mitigate further reduction in preparing and graduating new nurses to enter the workforce.

Half of the funding will be used by nursing colleges to improve pay for clinical nurse faculty in South Carolina’s public colleges, universities and technical colleges.

Nine new faculty members will join the University of South Carolina College of Nursing in fall 2022.

The balance will provide scholarships or tuition reimbursement for graduate-level students to support specialty training and prepare nurses for advanced practice roles to serve citizens across South Carolina.

“We are thrilled that Gov. McMaster and

Doctor of Nursing Practice or nursing-

legislators have partnered with the state’s

related Ph.D. candidates who agree to

public colleges of nursing to address South

accept a faculty role in an in-state nursing

Carolina’s nursing workforce and faculty

program upon completion of their studies

shortage. This is a great win for South

will also qualify.

Carolina. These funds are a great step in our journey to tackle this complex challenge and will further expand public nursing programs across the state,” says University of South Carolina College of Nursing Dean Jeannette O. Andrews.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“Nursing is vital to the health care system, so the benefit of this support will be significant in improving health and health care for South Carolina. It is exciting to anticipate next steps and the opportunity to collaborate with peers, develop strategies, and leverage the funding to address faculty and nursing workforce shortages,” says Shirleatha Lee, dean of the USC Upstate Mary Black College of Nursing.

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STUDENT AND FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS

Students recognized for personal and academic excellence The College of Nursing congratulates these students who received awards for their commitment to leadership, scholarship and service.

REBECCA DUNCAN

SOPHIA GILLIAM

SYDNEY JONES

LINDSEY LIPMAN

UNDERGRADUATE NURSING IMPACT AWARD

UofSC OUTSTANDING SENIOR

PRESIDENT'S AWARD AND UofSC OUTSTANDING SENIOR

OUTSTANDING RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP AWARD AND UofSC OUTSTANDING SENIOR

KATHERINE MARSDEN

RODNEY MCKIE

ELIJAH MOSS

DAISY NOYOLA

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD

OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COLLEGE OF NURSING AND/OR THE UNIVERSITY AWARD

OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE CLINICAL PERFORMANCE AWARD

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD

CREIGHLYN PRICE

SARAH WILLARD

BRIANA WOODBURY

OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE LEADERSHIP AWARD

OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD AND UofSC OUTSTANDING SENIOR

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD (RN-BSN)

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA / 11

ENDOWED PROFESSORS Gayenell Magwood Myrtle Irene Brown Endowed Professor of Nursing Appointed August 2022 From 1970 until her retirement in 1980, Myrtle Irene Brown was a professor and the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs at the University of South Carolina College of Nursing.

She was instrumental in creating graduate level programs that were the first in the state of South Carolina and among the first in the nation to be developed. The master's degree programs in nursing and the Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner programs were established during her tenure as dean.

Gayenell Magwood received her Ph.D. in nursing science from the Medical University of South Carolina, a master of science in advanced clinical nursing from George Mason University, a bachelor of science in nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina, a bachelor of arts from Winthrop University, completed postgraduate work in public health and is a registered nurse.

Magwood is a fellow of the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Nursing.

Areas of Focus: Community based participatory research and community engagement Cardiometabolic risk and prevention; cancer control and prevention Health equity; health disparities; biobehavioral research

The endowed chair will lead/expand development of health equity research in the College of Nursing. The chair has significant endowment support and will have the opportunity to collaborate with other researchers in the established centers in the university and our partners.

Lorie Donelle Emily Myrtle Smith Endowed Professor of Nursing Appointed August 2022 Emily Myrtle Smith was an

Donelle’s research addresses issues of health literacy, social justice and digital health. Her research investigates technology enabled models of home care and the relationships between health information technologies and client/clinician health practices.

Donelle sits on international and national advisory committees for health literacy and digital health.

innovative leader in community and occupational health nursing, serving as an officer of the U.S. Public Health Services from 1945 to 1965. She was also a pioneer in international nursing

Areas of Focus: Digital health •

Technology enabled models of health care

•

Impact on clients, clinicians and organizations

education initiatives in Taiwan and Japan. In recognition of her

Health and digital health literacy

many close ties to the UofSC College of Nursing, in 1974, Smith was

Health promotion

awarded an Honorary Alumni Membership to the College.

In 1965, Smith and her family created this endowed professorship fund with the goal of supporting nursing initiatives that promote community health and wellness.

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DONOR SPOTLIGHT

NATE ALUMN O I S S A P A E RECEIVE 2022 DONO R AWARDS Dean Jeannette Andrews and the Office of Development at the College of Nursing thank all donors for their generosity. We are honored to present the 2022 Donor Awards to three passionate donors.

DEAN'S DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Sue Heiney

’79 B.S., NURSING; ’81 MASTER’S, NURSING; ’88 Ph.D. Sue Heiney retired in May 2022 after practicing for 50 years. About 40 of those years were spent caring for patients with cancer and their families – both children and adults – and conducting research on their behalf.

In her retirement, Heiney remains committed to giving back to her profession by mentoring students and faculty and is currently the Dunn-Shealy Professor Emerita of Nursing. After leaving Prisma Health, she continued to volunteer for Good Grieving, a program she founded while working there.

Parallel to her work, she has volunteered extensively for professional nursing organizations, including serving as president of the Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses and treasurer for the South Carolina Nurses Association. She also volunteered for research activities in the Oncology Nursing Society and was presented the Mara Mogensen Flaherty Memorial Lectureship Award for speaking and writing on “The Healing Power of Story.” She volunteered for the American Cancer Society, served as the first nurse to chair the S.C. Board of Directors and co-authored the book Cancer in Our Family: Helping Children Cope with a Parent’s Illness.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA / 13

Marlene Mackey

’64 B.S. NURSING; MASTER’S, NURSING; Ph.D. Marlene Mackey earned her nursing diploma in 1960 from the Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital School of Nursing. She continued her education to receive her B.S. in nursing in 1964 and worked at the Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital, where she specialized in labor and delivery.

After traveling and working abroad for a few years, Mackey returned to the United States and earned a master’s degree at the University of Pittsburgh. She then pursued a Ph.D. in nursing sciences at the University of Illinois, focusing on premature labor. In 1984, she accepted

RUTH AND RALLIE SEIGLER SPIRIT OF GIVING AWARD Patricia Boike

’69 B.S., NURSING; ’93 MBA

a teaching position at the University of South Carolina College of Nursing, where she taught until she retired in 2006.

While at South Carolina, Mackey traveled abroad to participate in two exchange programs, one at Shanxi University in Taiyuan, China, to study childbirth and one in Colombia to study pregnancy. She has received many honors throughout her career, including an official commendation from the U.S. Department of the Army for Outstanding Performance as

After graduating from the University of South Carolina in

a Clinical Nurse, Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award from the UofSC

1969 with a bachelor’s in nursing, Boike obtained an MBA

College of Nursing, and numerous awards for her research. Mackey also

from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1993,

was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 1995.

graduating summa cum laude. She spent 40 years working

In honor of the scholarships and other opportunities she was given

as a registered nurse in areas including adult medicalsurgical, cardiology and management with Novant Health.

The latter half of her career was spent as a clinical risk

to help achieve her remarkable career, Mackey, along with her sister Alberta and brother Gregory, established The Mackey-Wanska Finnish Family Women’s Health Fellowship at the University of South Carolina.

manager at Carolinas HealthCare (now Atrium), from which she retired in 2014. She was among the first in her department to earn certification as a professional risk manager.

Boike has had a strong calling to give back to her community over her lifetime. She has volunteered in many different areas, including participating in PTA school activities, teaching adult and children’s religious programs, holding multiple officer positions in a nonprofit learning disability organization, regularly donating blood, and serving as a deacon and on numerous committees in her church.

Boike credits her alma mater with leading her to a wonderful career. Recognizing the need for student financial assistance in the College of Nursing, she established the Patrician Endowed Scholarship to help other aspiring nurses achieve their dreams.

LEGACY OF CARING AWARD

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EVENTS

Celebrate Nursing Gala and Silent Auction

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA / 15

FACULTY RESEARCH

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE Pediatric research center improves health outcomes In August 2022, the Perinatal, Pediatrics, & Family Research Center (PPFRC) was formed after a group of multidisciplinary faculty and perinatal, pediatric, and family health researchers facilitated collaboration at the University of South Carolina College of Nursing and nationwide.

CASE IN POINT PPFRC will improve the health and wellbeing for families through research and innovation, and leadership and excellence through collaborative, interdisciplinary research.

•

REALITY CHECK

and beyond, before and after childbirth.

The center will work to improve access to health care

• •

March of Dimes rates S.C. with an

F

”

in preterm birth

15.9%

S.C. prenatal care rate VS

14.9%

U.S. prenatal care rate

Decrease morbidity and mortality for premature infants and children born in S.C. from birth to two years old.

and address racial disparities:

“

Decrease morbidity and mortality for women in S.C.

11.8%

Preterm birth rate is

Increased over the last five years

Facilitate the health and wellbeing of families in S.C. during childbearing years with increased access to equitable, quality health care through research.

New PPFRC Director Dr. Robin Dail serves as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and was recently appointed as Health Sciences Endowed Professor.

“I created the center to bring together maternal-child researchers at the College of Nursing with faculty across the UofSC campus and

Preterm birth rate among Black women is

55%

in S.C.

nation. This will enable networking and extended collaborations, growing research productivity at the university, while making a difference to improve health outcomes for families in South Carolina and beyond,” says Dail.

This is the only center amongst peer institutions conducting this research.

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GROWTH AND COMMITMENT

Nursing and Public Health unite to fast-track faculty diversity using $13 million grant NIH funding will support diversity initiative

By Erin Bluvas

training and professional development

training programs and courses. They

After several years of forward momentum

activities tailored to meet their needs while

conducted campus climate surveys and

also addressing institutional-level systems

collected data. And they created action

and barriers to ensure their success and

plans, including the UofSC Strategic Plan

reached a new level. Thanks to a $13.2

well-being.”

2020, with two of its eight priorities

million grant from the National Institutes

It started with a conversation. Then a

incorporating DEI (assemble and cultivate

of Health’s Common Fund, public

series of conversations. From department

health/epidemiology professor Angela

meetings to the highest levels of leadership,

Liese and nursing professor Coretta

faculty and staff across the university were

campus culture).

Jenerette will collaborate with an

talking about DEI – strategizing how to best

“This transformative award is the

interdisciplinary team* to launch the Faculty

improve the culture and support required

culmination of intentional effort by our

Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable

to advance these areas.

leaders to embed inclusive excellence into

Transformation (FIRST) program at UofSC.

Then changes started to happen. UofSC

our institutional fabric,” Williams says.

“UofSC’s FIRST program is designed to

elevated the position of Chief Diversity

recruit diverse early-stage faculty who are

Officer to Vice President for Diversity, Equity

committed to inclusive excellence and

and Inclusion and hired Julian Williams to

whose work focuses on health disparities

take on the role.

research.”

and equity,” Liese says. “We will support

Williams and other stakeholders

Now in its second year at NIH, FIRST funding

in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), UofSC’s DEI efforts have

these individuals through mentorship,

established new positions, committees,

a world-class faculty and staff; cultivate a more diverse, equitable and inclusive

“Achieving this goal will require a diverse faculty that bring unique perspectives, lived experiences and ideas to their teaching and

has been awarded to only a handful of academic institutions. The program is unique because it goes beyond traditional methods (e.g., training/mentor programs, intensified minority recruitment) that generally function in isolation and fall short in addressing DEI-related challenges.

Instead, FIRST works to transform academic communities into settings that embrace and expect DEI and where faculty can thrive and contribute to these efforts. The FIRST program promises to be a game changer for not only nursing and public health but also the broader university.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA / 17

“We are using this initiative to enhance the infrastructure and create an environment that offers inclusive support and a sense of belonging that will improve everyone’s experience at UofSC,” Jenerette says. “Our hope is to expand the program beyond this initial cohort of public health and nursing faculty so that it becomes a sustained part of our university – both philosophically and culturally.”

UofSC’s successful selection to receive this grant can be credited to two important factors. The first is the complementary skill sets and overlapping commitment to DEI that Jenerette and Liese bring to the table. Jenerette is the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity at the College of Nursing, where she also

appreciative of Professor Liese and Professor Jenerette’s leadership in bringing about change, and I am excited to see the tremendous impact this grant will have on increasing

conducts research to enhance self-care and

diversity in our university’s faculty ranks.”

family management among vulnerable

*Additional team members include Susan Steck (Epidemiology; Faculty Development

populations. Liese specializes in diabetes

Co-Lead), Lucy Ingram (Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior), Pamela Gillam (Center

epidemiology and public health nutrition,

for Applied Research and Evaluation; Evaluation Co-Lead), Tisha Felder (Nursing; Faculty

often with a focus on racial/ethnic

Development Co-Lead), Gloria Boutte (Education; Associate Dean of Diversity Equity

disparities.

Inclusion), and Michelle Bryan (Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion;

The second factor? Unwavering and

Education; Evaluation Co-Lead).

wholehearted support from UofSC leadership, from chairs/deans to the president. Their considerable efforts to improve DEI over the past few years extend to their immediate and long-term commitment to FIRST. “Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of South Carolina is a central value for me, President Amiridis and our university’s larger leadership team,” says Donna Arnett, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “I am

The NIH Common Fund’s Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) program aims to implement and sustain cultures of inclusive excellence in the biomedical research community. “Inclusive excellence” refers to cultures that establish and sustain scientific environments that cultivate and benefit from a full range of talent and has the potential to be transformational for biomedical research at the awardee institutions and beyond. The UofSC FIRST program is supported by grant #U54CA272171.

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GROWTH AND COMMITMENT

NOW HIRIN G

NEW FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM ADDRESSES SOUTH CAROLINA’S NURSING SHORTAGE A new faculty pipeline program launched this summer will assist the College of Nursing in increasing

I am thankful for the pipeline program because it allows me to

manage my time throughout the week, completing my research

and fulfilling my teacher assistant role. I feel called to teach entry

student enrollment and addressing

level courses and build students confidence levels after graduation.

critical staff shortages in our state

- Jennifer Beecroft, Research Associate

and beyond.

South Carolina can expect a 24 percent nursing staff shortage over the next few years, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

While South Carolina faces challenges, the College of

Nursing is rising to meet them. Learning from UofSC faculty recognized nationally and internationally for innovative

research, our students become agile nurses who can thrive in a wide range of patient care settings.

- Dean Jeannette Andrews Also, according to the federal Bureau of Health Workforce, the state has the lowest nurse-to-population ratio in the U.S. The new Nursing Faculty Fellows Pipeline Program, which is funded by a grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation, will enable new faculty to be hired over the next three years. Seven to ten doctoral students will be accepted into the fellowship program and hired as faculty clinical “instructors.”

They will receive mentorship, teaching and research preparation to increase their readiness to become future faculty. After completion, the fellow is eligible to apply to be an assistant professor in the College of Nursing.

The Nursing Faculty Fellows Pipeline Program adds to the vital initiatives already underway at the university to address the future nursing workforce challenge in South Carolina. The number of patients and families across the state impacted from this pilot program’s additional workforce is projected in the thousands.

PROGRAMS EXCEL College of Nursing students are in the top 1 percent of NCLEX pass rates in the country and have had 100 percent pass rates on nurse practitioner board exams. The college is ranked No. 1 in graduate online nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report. The college also has increased its pre-licensure junior class Bachelor of Science in nursing enrollment by 40 percent over the past six years. At the graduate level, overall enrollment has increased by 130 percent.

“Because of our statewide and national reputation for excellence, there is a huge demand for our nursing program, with more applications at both the undergraduate and graduate level than we can admit,” Andrews says. “Our health system partners favor our expertly trained graduates, and we have a strong history of partnering on nursing workforce issues.”

With more than 11,000 alumni, partners, faculty and staff, the College of Nursing will continue to lead the way in improving health outcomes and equity and solving the nursing shortage.

UofSC NURSING #1

2022 U.S. News & World Report Graduate Online Programs

96–100%

ANCC pass rate for new nurse practitioner graduates

Top 30s

in NIH funding among U.S. Colleges of Nursing

$699,093

in scholarships, traineeships, departmental support awarded to

342 students in

Summer 2021 – Spring 2022

By The Numbers

Top 1%

in the country NCLEX pass rates

10,938+ Alumni in

49 States 160 Faculty $20 million

2

National League of Nursing Center of Excellence in Nursing Education Designations

1,973+ Students

30%

of USC Nursing Faculty hold distinguished national fellowships

grant funding in the past 5 years

8

Endowed Professorships st

1 Nursing Honors

Program in South Carolina

Top choice for nursing students in South Carolina

98%

Full-time faculty doctorally prepared and/or enrolled in doctoral programs

20 / COLLEGE OF NURSING | 2022

FACULTY RESEARCH

GETTING PHYSICAL $3.7 million grant aims to promote greater physical activity and well-being among inactive African American women in South Carolina Allison Sweeney believes that making physical activity a part of everyday life will foster greater health equity for South Carolina’s population – particularly among African American communities.

To help reach that goal, Sweeney, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing, is leading a clinical trial to promote daily exercise and greater cardiovascular health among African American women. Funded by a five-year $3.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, the Together Everyone Achieves More Physical Activity (TEAM) project is partnering with community organizations to make physical activity programs social, accessible and easy for people to participate.

We asked Sweeney about her research, the TEAM trial, and her passion for helping people find ways to be more active by making exercise part of their daily routine.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE TRIAL AND ITS IMPACT? We are focusing on African American women because in South Carolina they have some of the highest rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity, all of which can be prevented (or some of the symptoms can be reduced) by regular physical activity. At a national level, despite having high rates of chronic disease, racial minorities are underrepresented in clinical trials. Historically, researchers have not done a good job at tailoring programs to meet the needs, interests and values of minority communities. My hope is that by partnering with community organizations and integrating core values related to social support, this grant will help to identify best practices for reducing barriers to participation, facilitate positive changes in health and well-being and promote greater health equity in South Carolina.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA / 21

WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN TEAM AND HOW DOES IT WORK? The program is implemented in small groups, 10–15 people, recruited in collaboration with community partners. We want to help women who are currently inactive (getting less than an hour of exercise a week) learn how to make physical activity part of their everyday life in a way that is enjoyable and sustainable.

We are comparing two types of group programs: one that focuses on group competition and social connectedness and one that focuses on self-efficacy and one-on-one support from a group facilitator. Both programs involve weekly group sessions for 12 weeks and participants receive a complementary FitBit fitness tracker, which we use for weekly goal-setting.

We launched our first groups of participants in September and

months later to see if they've been able to maintain changes. We're

are excited to continue to offer these programs over the next

not able to look at the primary outcome until the trial is complete, but

few years.

along the way, we can track things like attendance and retention and

WHO ARE YOUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH THEM?

monitor the program to make sure we're hitting our benchmarks for the sessions.

Centers. It’s important to make these programs accessible, and

HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO FOCUS YOUR RESEARCH ON HEALTH BEHAVIOR, SPECIFICALLY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG INACTIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN?

they all have locations where we can run the 12-week group

As a post-doctoral fellow, I worked with Dawn Wilson (from the

sessions. We try to target community sites that people are

Department of Psychology at the University of South Carolina) to

already visiting on a regular basis or live nearby. For example,

develop behavioral lifestyle interventions for racial minority families.

one of our programs is at a Boys and Girls Club after-school site

This work was extremely rewarding and eye-opening. I have found

at a local elementary school. We've been able to recruit parents

that there are a lot of misconceptions about exercising. Many people

whose children are in the program. They're already at the school

don’t realize that even adding 10 minutes of brisk walking a day has

to pick up their kids, so they don’t have to travel somewhere

major implications for reducing risk for premature death and chronic

extra. We want to make it easy for people to participate and

disease. This work also instilled in me the importance of academic

integrate it into their daily routines.

institutions/researchers partnering directly with communities to work

We’re working with Parks and Recreation in Columbia, the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands and the city of Sumter HOPE

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

together to overcome barriers. By developing behavioral lifestyle programs that meet the needs of diverse communities, we can make

The grant is for five years, so as one group completes the 12-

progress toward eliminating health disparities in chronic disease

week program, we recruit another group. We hope to see a

in South Carolina. I am excited to continue research that promotes

positive change in physical activity (as well as other outcomes

sustainable and meaningful changes in health and well-being,

like blood pressure and motivation) from the beginning to the

especially among underrepresented minority communities.

end of the program. We also will follow up with participants six

22 / COLLEGE OF NURSING | 2022

ALUMNI NEWS

2022 ALUMNI AWARDS WINNERS Alumni award winners exemplify College of Nursing’s values and mission

administrators, lawmakers and game-changers. A true

Two alumni committed to service and nursing excellence were

values of the college and the profession of nursing."

recognized with 2022 Outstanding Alumni Awards.

To recognize excellence in its graduates, the college presents the awards each fall. For 2022, Lauren Booth (2016 master’s nursing) received the Outstanding Nurse Alumni Award. The award is given to a graduate whose first degree from the college was earned before 2010 or who has more than 10 years’ experience.

Xavier Pollard (2018 bachelor’s nursing) received the Outstanding Young Nurse Alumni Award (given to a graduate whose first degree from the college was earned between 2010 and present and who has 10 years or less experience).

At the awards ceremony, College of Nursing Dean Jeannette Andrews said, "Our alumni are care providers, educators,

testament to the College of Nursing is the success of our alumni. This evening we honor two alumni who embody the

2022 Alumni Award Nominations Young Nurse Alumni Award

Outstanding Nurse Alumni Award

Lindsay Martin

Gaye McClenny Betcher

Ashley Owens

Lauren Booth

Xavier Pollard

Angela Bruccoli

Loribeth Smith

Lillian Hill Michelle Parr

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA / 23

OUTSTANDING NURSE ALUMNI AWARD

Lauren Booth (advanced practice registered nurse; FNP-BC)

Booth is passionate about providing opportunities for growth, development and mentorship for nurse practitioners and nurse practitioner students. She is active in several professional organizations that promote the role of nurse practitioners and, since 2018, has been an active member of the University of South Carolina College of Nursing Alumni Council.

Booth is a diabetes/endocrinology specialty family nurse practitioner at S.C. House Call with a background in critical care, cardiology, ortho/neuro, psychiatry and home health. During her 20-year career in health care, she spent 10 years as a registered nurse holding positions of staff nurse, charge nurse and house supervisor and has spent the past six years practicing as a nurse practitioner.

Booth is the president of the Capitol Nurse Practitioner Group in Columbia, South Carolina, one of the largest growing organizations to advance, support and promote the role of nurse practitioners in the state and nationally through virtual communications. She also has been an active member of Sigma Theta Tau Alpha Xi and Pi Lambda chapters, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Association, South Carolina Nurses Association and the American Association of Psychiatric Nurses.

She is currently enrolled in the Amy V. Cockcroft Leadership Fellowship program at the College of Nursing's Center for Nursing Leadership. She has been the recipient of the June Boggs Scholarship and Daisy Award at Palmetto Richland Hospital and was recognized for her outstanding leadership of Capitol Nurse Practitioner Group.

OUTSTANDING YOUNG NURSE ALUMNI AWARD

Capt. Xavier Pollard (registered nurse) After high school, Pollard completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. While serving, Pollard enrolled in the University of South Carolina College of Nursing's Bachelor of Science program and prepared for his Army ROTC commission.

Following his commissioning in 2018 as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, Pollard attended the Medical Center of Excellence Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. He served as a staff nurse at Fort Lewis Madigan Army Medical Center's medical-surgical unit in Washington before moving to inpatient pediatrics. He then transitioned to head nurse of the Madigan Army Medical Center's Family Medicine Clinic at the Brigade level, covering 1,200 service members. During the pandemic, Pollard was part of Joint Task Force 51, providing COVID relief at Northern Navajo Medical Center in New Mexico.

Pollard won the Madigan Army Medical Center Registered Nurse of the Year in 2021.

Currently, he is attending Uniform Services University School of Medicine with the hope of specializing in otorhinolaryngology.

24 / COLLEGE OF NURSING | 2022

ALUMNI NEWS

THREE GENERATIONS OF GAMECOCK NURSES The calling and tradition of nursing is often passed down among

Today, Wendy is a nurse manager in the Wound, Ostomy and

families. Our "Tradition of Nursing" spotlights nurse relatives who

Continence department at Piedmont Hospital in Augusta, Georgia.

have earned their degree from UofSC College of Nursing.

All three generations have helped with a high school physicals clinic

Junior Mckenna Wiggins was inspired by generations of Gamecock

(founded by a family member) for over 60 years.

nurses in her family to attend UofSC and major in nursing. Even the

Wendy and Donah both attended Mckenna's stethoscope

smallest details align with this nursing family. Mckenna's mother

ceremony in May as she entered upper division. The experienced

and grandmother coincidentally lived in the same dorm and room

nurses support Mckenna from the sidelines as she navigates her

while at the university- many years apart.

nursing school experience.

"I have always been told that nursing is in my blood. Watching my grandmother and mom as excellent nurses was a huge influence. I hope one day to be just as good as they are," said Mckenna.

The tradition of Gamecock nursing began with her grandmother, Donah Cooper. She found her love of serving the community by assisting her OB-GYN father and later marrying Mckenna's grandfather, who is a general surgeon. Mckenna's mother, Wendy Wiggins, watched her father and mother go the extra mile for patients and the community and also became a nurse.

When Mckenna had an important nursing exam on wound care, I was able to study with her over the phone and help her prepare. It was a special experience.

DONNA COOPER

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA / 25

DEAN'S CIRCLE | Makes direct impact on nursing

As a Dean's Circle donor, you have an immediate and substantial impact on our ability to change the future of nursing for the better.

SCAN TO GIVE

The Dean's Circle recognizes donors who annually (July 1 – June 30) give gifts of $1,000 or more to the College of Nursing.

2022

NEW HIRES

Staff Kristy Bailey, Dean’s Assistant Makayla Mansfield, Recruitment Program Coordinator Shalama Jackson, Research Associate Cynthia Ekman, Research Associate Jasmine Gant, Program Assistant

Faculty

Shantise Byrd, Research Nurse

Stephanie Schaller, Assistant Professor

Mya Singleton, Communications Manager

Jewel Scott, Assistant Professor

Nicole Meares, Director of Communications and Marketing

Gayenell Magwood, Myrtle Irene Brown Endowed

Anna Tompkins, Undergraduate Academic Advisor

Professor of Nursing

Carmelita Wise, Program Coordinator

Janet Kubas, Assistant Professor

Paris Davis, Undergraduate Academic Advisor

Malissa Mulkey, Assistant Professor

Maya Wright, Program Assistant

Teresa Bowers, Assistant Professor

Margaret Prentice, Program Manager

Carolyn Sue-Ling, Associate Professor

Stephanie Raley, Simulation Educator

Nikki Smith, Assistant Professor

Jennifer Beecroft, Research Associate

Lorie Donelle, Emily Myrtle Smith Endowed Professor of Nursing

Neely Cathcart, Clinical Placement Coordinator

Kristen Weaver-Toedtman, Assistant Professor

Rene Hamer, Director of Graduate Student Recruitment

Cierra Pinckney, Undergraduate Academic Advisor

26 / COLLEGE OF NURSING | 2022

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

MEPN

GRADUATES

The Master’s Entry to Practice Nursing (MEPN) first cohort graduated August 2022. This program prepares non-nurse baccalaureate-prepared individuals to enter the nursing profession as master’s degree graduates.

This unique program provides the opportunity to gain education and experience as a direct-care provider of nursing in a variety of settings. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX).

Eleanore Anderson

Regan Gregory

Tre'Linda Little

Colby Sharpe

Savannah Asbill

Tamala Hammond

Michael Lynch

Katie Smith

Jocelyn Bennett

Nicole Hoffner

Majaka Mentar

Latoya Stewart

Sabrina Denson

Maranda Jebens-Plumb

Max Palmer

Sloane Taylor

Tamarra Fils

Katelyn Koluch

Haley Pitzer

Jasmine White-Snell

Allyson Gilbert

Sara Kosnosky

Amber Rabon

Yolanda Green

Peyton Leach

Sydney Saunders

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA / 27

Nonprofit Organization US Postage Paid Columbia, SC Permit #766

1601 Greene Street Columbia, SC 29208

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE OF NURSING

Leading with Excellence Whether you are searching for an advanced practice degree to expand your clinical role or training for a new position in nurse leadership or informatics, our online nationally ranked graduate programs will prepare you for the next phase of your career.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN NURSING SCIENCE

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE

Scan the QR code to see specific programs and more online.

nursgrad@mailbox.sc.edu sc.edu/nursing